Ditcher driving and steering mechanism



Jan. 16, 1962 H. A. BARBER ETAL 3,016,632

DITCHER DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 23. 1957 INVENToRs HARRY A. BARBER LEONARD s. BURNS BY EDWARD J. RoDTs u v AT ORNEYS H. A. BARBER ETAT. 3,016,632

DITCHER DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 16, 1962 Original Filed Jan. 25. 1957 HARRY A. BARBER LEONARD 5. BURNS BYEOWARO J. ROOTS ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 H. A. BARBER ETAL 3,016,632

DITCHER DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 23. 1957 INVENTORS HARRY A. BARBER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 YLEONARD s. BURNS B EDWARD J. ROOTS 'ATT 'Unite dtates arent @hice Patented dan. 16, ttig 3,016,632 BCHER DRSWNG AND SEERENG MECHANiSM Harry A. Barber, Leonard S. Burns, and Edward l. Roots, Aurora, ill., to -Greene Company, Aurora, lill., a corporation of lliiinois Continuation of application Ser. No. 635,632, Jan. 23, 19157. 'this application 2S, i960, Se No. 17,55@ Ciairns. (Cl. 37--97) This invention relates generally to a ditch digging machine. More particularly, this invention relates to a ditch digging machine generally of the type including a self-propelled vehicle or tractor having a digging trench conveyor extending transversely of the digging wheel for unloading the material dumped from the digging wheel upon the conveyor.

This application is a continuation of our application Serial No. 635,632, iiled January 23, 1957, now abancloned.

rl`he present invention concerns itself with the provision of means for solving several of the outstanding problems faced by manufacturers in the manufacture of a more efficient trench digger and one which has increased utility.

To this end, there is herein provided new and improved means for transmitting the power from the power source or engine to the digging mechanism in the form of a drive shaft paralleling mechanism. The instant mechanism is adapted to compensate for irregular movements and varying trenching depths. The mechanism aids in the provision of a digging machine which has the ability to cope with slopes, lills, stumps, stones, and still dig a fairly straight and level trench. Also, by virtue of the present invention, the need for the conventional type of sprocket chain drive has been eliminated which has not been satisfactory since in operation the chain has a tendency to jump the sprocket thus interfering with the operation of the digging machine and causing time delays.

In addition to the foregoing, new means has been evolved to reduce the stress between the tractor and the digging wheel assembly when the ditcher is digging along a curve.

Accordingly, an ebject of this invention is to provide a new and improved ditcher which may dig along a curve with a minimum amount of stress between the digger wheel and the trench.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved drive means for transferring power from the power source on a ditcher to a digging wheel carried by the ditcher and eliminating the undesirable conventional jack knife type of chain drive heretofore used for transmitting power to the digging wheel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved draft structure accommodating the digging of a ditch along a curve by taking the draw bar pull between the tractor and digging wheel assembly along the outer side of the tractor and digging wheel assembly when the tractor is turning, to draw the digging wheel assembly to dig a curve in either direction and by equally distributing the draw bar pull between each side of the tractor and the digging wheel assembly when the tractor is traveling in a straight ahead direction.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- 1n:

FIGURE l is a view in side elevation of a ditching machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the rear end portion of the ditching machine with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section in order to illustrate certain details of the draft connection from the tractor to the digging wheel structure;

FlGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in side elevation, illustrating certain details of the drive to the digging wheel structure and certain details of the draft connection to the digging wheel structure and elevating means therefor;

FlGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line IV--IV of FIGURE 3;

FlGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the ditching machine drawn to a smaller scale than FlG URE 3, and illustrating the mechanism for raising and lowering the digging wheel structure;

FlGURE 6 is a partial fragmentary plan view of the machine illustrating the mechanism for raising and lowering the digging wheel structure;

FIGURE 7 is a partial fragmentary rear end view looking toward the rear end of the tractor and showing the differential for driving the digging wheel structure and the connectors for supporting the differential and connecting the digging wheel assembly to the tractor; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary partial horizontal sectional view taken through the: motion limiting connection accommodating the draw bar pull to be taken on either connector depending upon the direction the tractor is turning to draw the ditcher around the curve.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a wheel type trench digging machine is shown in FIGURE l as including a self-propelled vehicle in the general form of a tractor lil. The tractor it) includes generally a box-like frame structure 112'. having parallel spaced side frame members la connected together at their rear ends by a transverse I-beam d6. The frame structure 12 is supported on suitable traction devices, herein shown as being continuous traction tread devices in the form of crawlers lll. The tractor lil carries the power mechanism for driving the crawlers il, as well as a digging wheel 14 and serves as a propulsion device to draw the digging wheel 14 to dig a trench in the ground, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

The frame structure l2 includes a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending supports 15, shown as being in the form of channels and extending vertically from the rear end portions of the side frame members i4 of the frame structure and suitably braced to the frame structure l2. The upper ends of the vertically extending supports i5' have sheaves 34 and a3 mounted thereon over which are trained flexible cables 33 and 39 respectively, for elevating or lowering and tilting the digging wheel 14 with respect to the frame structure l2, and for retaining the digging wheel in a desired position of adjustment with respect to the ground, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

Transversely pivoted to each of the supports f1.5 adjacent the upper ends thereof, but beneath the sheaves 34 and t3 on pivot pins i6 are vertically extending guide members i7 shown as being in the form of i-beams and depending from the pivot pins in and mounted thereon for angular movement toward and from the frame structure l2. The laterally spaced vertical supports l5 and guide members i7 form mast structures over which 'the flexible cables 33 and 39 are trained to support spaced arms 23 of a hoorn structure Z2, supporting the digging wheel r-/t' and connecting the digging wheel le to the frame structure l2, to be pulled by the tractor itl during the digging Operation. The arms 23 of the boom structure 22 have spaced upward extensions extending along opposite sides of the connectors iii (FGURE S). The connectors 18 are herein shown as being in the form of plates extending rearwardly of the guide members 17 and guided for slidable movement along said guide members. Pivot pins serve to connect the upward extensions 24 to the connectors f8. The connectors iS and guide member i7 thus forni connectors for the boom structure 22, connecting the boom structure to the frame structure 12 for vertical movement with respect to said frame structure and for independent limited movement toward and from said frame structure.

Each connector l, as shown in FlGURES 4 and 5, is slidably connected to the associated guide member i7 by means of guide brackets 19 secured to the upper and lower end portions of said connector, as by bolts Zit extending through said brackets and connector. rlie guide brackets 19 have forwardly opening gibbed guides 21, the gibs of which slidably extend along the inside of a rear flange ll7c'of the `i-beam forming the guide member i7, and thereby retain the associated connector for vertical movement along said guide member.

The digging wheel i4 is of a generally ring-like form `suitably mounted between the arms 23 of the boom structure 22 and having digger buckets 13 projecting from the periphery thereof.

The connectors l, boom structure 22 and digging wheel .ifi are elevated and lowered and are retained in the desired position of adjustment by the flexible cables 33 and 39 operated by hydraulic cylinders 2o and 27 respectively. The hydraulic cylinder Z5 is pivotally connected between the vertical supports i5 and extends forwardly therefrom and has a piston rod 2d extensible therefrom having a transverse shaft 29 mounted on its forward end and extending from opposite sides thereof. Sheaves 3@ are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of the shaft 29. The flexible cables 33 are connected to xed connectors 2L-32 on upright frame members 32a extending upwardly from the frame structure l2.

From the sheave 31, the flexible cable 33 extends over and around the sheave 34 downwardly to the connector 18 and is connected to an ear 18a, extending outwardly from said connector, on an adjustable clevis and bolt mechanism 35 (FGURES 3 and 5). The admission of .fluid under pressure to the piston rod end of the cylinder 26 under the control of suitable valve means (not shown) will thus retractably move the piston rod 2S and sheaves 30 and vertically move the connectors i8 and boom structure 22 with respect to the ground. Upon the release of fluid under pressure from the piston rod end of the cylinder 26, the connectors l?) and boom structure 22 may be lowered by gravity. The holding of fluid under pressure in the piston rod end of the cylinder 26 will retain the connectors 1S and boom structure 22 in the desired position of adjustment with respect to the ground.

The cylinder 27 is suitably connected between the vertical supports l5 at its rear end and extends forwardly therefrom and has a piston rod 36 extensibly and retractably movable with respect thereto. The piston rod 36 has a transverse shaft 37 mounted at its forward end and extending from opposite sides thereof and having sheaves 3S mounted on each end thereof. The flexible cables 39 extend from connectors 46 mounted between the upright frame members 32a and forwardly therefrom to and around the sheaves 38. From thence, the flexible cables 39 extend forwardly to and `around sheaves 42 suitably mounted between the vertical frame members 32a. The flexible cables 39 then are trained over the sheaves 43 mounted on the mast structure formed by the ver-tical support :l5 and rearwardly and angularly downwardly therefrom to upright connecting means di at the rear end portion of the boom structure Z2 adjacent opposite sides thereof.

The hydraulic cylinder 27 may thus angularly move the boom structure 22 about the axes of the pivot pins 25 .t to tilt the boom structure with respect to the ground and to maintain the boom structure in the desired angular relation with respect to the ground for digging or for traveling from the working place to working place.

A means is provided to limit outward movement of the connectors 1S with respect to the frame structure 12 and to accommodate the draw bar pull to be taken on either connector and to be relieved from the opposite connector when the tractor it) is drawing the digging Wheel around a curve, depending upon the direction the tractor is turn ing. While this means may be of various forms, as herein shown, extension plates 53 extend forwardly from the lower end portions of the guide members i7. Each extension plate 53 has a longitudinally extending slot 55 formed therein and extends between parallel spaced arms 43 and i9 of a yoke 47 secured to and extending rearwardly from the transverse beam 46. Movement of the connectors t3 toward and from the frame structure l2 is limited by stop means comprising pins'S mounted in the arms i8 and 49 of the yokes 47 and extending through the slots 55 in the plates 53.

When the tractor 1i) is traveling in a straight line direction, the connectors 18 will both be in outwardly extending relation with respect to the frame structure 12. r:The pins 5l engaging the forward ends of the slots 55 will thus limit outward movement of the connectors 18 and the draw bar pull will be taken equally on each connector.

When the tractor lil turns either to the right orto the left to draw the digging wheel 14 to dig along a curve, the connector 18 on the inside may move toward the frame structure 12, while the connector i8 on the outside will remain in its outwardly extended position with respect f to the frame structure l2 and take the Ventire draw bar pull. Thus, the digging wheel f4 when digging along a curve is drawn with a pulling force generally pulling the digging wheel tangentially of the curve along the outer side thereof, with a resultant reduction in twisting stresses on the boom structure and the supporting and drive mechanism for the digging wheel.

It should here be understood that in a ditching machine of the class described, that in order to attain the proper Abalance and performance of the machine, the tractor is usually much longer than the digging wheel and its supporting boom structure forming the excavating unit. The diameter of the digging wheel is usually such that when the digging wheel has dug into the ground and is below the top of the `ground and is digging a ditch along the ground, that with the ditching machines heretofore in use, any effort to turn the digging wheel from a straight line to dig along a curve puts undue twisting stresses on the boom structure supporting the digging wheel as well as on the tractor, and draws the digging wheel angularly with respect to the ditch, with the result that it binds and frequently `becomes hung up in the ditch.

ln the draft structure of the present invention, the connectors 1lb accommodate relative movement of the tractor 10 with respect to the boom structure 22 in horizontal directions and also may freely move vertically along the guide members when the tractor is traveling along irregular terrain, and thereby reduce vertical and horizontal twisting stresses on the boom structure and digging wheel as well as on the tractor, during the digging operation.

The digging wheel i4, as shown in FIGURE l, is driven from a power unit 61 at the front of the frame structure 12. The power unit 6l may be an internal combustion engine and is selectively connected with the digging wheel and crawlers l1 through a conventional clutch assembly (not shown) in a clutch housing 62. The power unit 61 drives a conventional transmission contained within a transmission housing 63 under the control of a clutch in the clutch housing d2 and disposed immediately rearwardly of the clutch housing. The transmission has driving connection with a suitable geared reduction train (not shown) disposed in an auxiliary gear box 64 housing a reduction gear train for driving a drive shaft 65 projecting rearwardly of the auxiliary gear box 64 and for driving a drive shaft 66 projecting forwardly of said gear box. The drive shaft 65 serves to drive the digging Wheel 14, While the drive shaft 66 serves to drive the crawlers 1l in a conventional manner, to propel the tractor and draw the digging wheel to dig a ditch in the ground.

The drive shaft d5 has a universal joint 67 of a conventional construction connected to and driven from its rear end. The universal joint o7 drives a universal joint 69 vertically movable with the connectors i3, through a telescopic shaft 693i. The telescopic shaft 68 includes a shaft 7d connected to and driven from the universal joint 67 and a tubular shaft 72 telescopically mounted on the shaft 'itl and having driving connection at its free end with the universal joint 69.

The universal joint 69 has driving connection with a driven shaft 73, which shaft is shown as extending forwardly from a differential housing 74, for driving differential gearing (not shown) contained within said differential housing. Driven shafts 75 and 76 extend from opposite ends of the differential housing and are driven from the differential gearing therein.

The differential housing and differential contained therein may be a conventional differential unit, such as is used in automotive vehicles and the like. The differentiai housing 74 extends through and is suitably mounted adjacent its opposite ends in the connectors i8, for vertical movement therewith. As shown in FIGURE 7, the connectorsy t8 have parallel spaced plates 83 and 84, extending inwardly therefrom between which extend lugs 85 extending from the differential housing. The lugs 85 are spaced from the plates 33 and 84 a distance sufcient to accommodate angular movement of the differential housing with respect to the connectors i8 upon angular movement of said connectors toward and from the tractor.

The respective drive shafts 75 and 76 have sprockets 77 and 7S mounted on the ends thereof. which respectively drive sprockets 79 and E@ through individual endless drive chains 3l. The sprockets 79 and 8i) drive coaxial gears (not shown) which mesh with internal teeth 8l on the rims of the digging wheel 14. to drive said digging wheel and the buckets f3 to effect a ditching operation and discharge the loose material excavated onto a conventional cross conveyor assembly 82 extending through and to opposite sides of the digging wheel, as shown in FIGURE 2. The cross conveyor assembly 82 is supported on the boom structure 22 for delivering the loose excavated material to one side of the ditch or trench being excavated.

it will here be noted that the drive shafts 65 and 73 are maintained in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other throughout the range of adjustable movement of the connectors 1S and differential housing Mi with respect to the ground. This results in a more uniform drive between the shafts 65 and 73 with a resultant reduction in vibration in the drive between the two shafts. The telescopic drive connection also makes it possible to drive the digging wheel ltin all positions of elevation of the digging wheel with respect to the ground without the use of the usual jack knife chain drives heretofore used.

lt may also be seen that the drive and draft connection of the invention makes it possible for the relatively large diameter digging wheel lid to be drawn by the tractor lli to dig a ditch along a curve by drawing the digging wheel by the outer connector 1S and accommodating the inner connector liti to be relatively free.

While we have herein shown and described one form in which our invention may be embodied, it will be understood that various modifications and variations in the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

l. ln a ditching machine, a self-propelled vehicle including a frame structure having parallel spaced side frame members having transversely spaced upright supports extending upwardly therefrom at the rear end thereof, a boom structure extending rearwardly of said upright supports and having a digging wheel rotatably supported thereon, means connecting said boom structure to said upright supports to be drawn by the vehicle to effect a ditching operation comprising an individual connector associated with each upright support, said connectors being mounted for pivotal movement about horizontal transverse axes spaced above said side frame members, means pivotally connecting said boom structure to said connectors for movement about horizontal transverse axes adjacent the lower end portions of said oonnectors, and motion limiting means associated with each connector beneath the horizontal transverse pivotal axis thereof and accommodating independent angular movement of said connectors toward and from said upright supports and having spaced stop surfaces limiting movement of said connectors toward and from said supports, whereby the draw bar pull of the vehicle ifs taken through both of said connectors in a straight forward travel of the vehicle and is taken through the outer of said connectors on the outside of a curve, with the draw bar pull on the inner of said connectors on the inside of a curve being relieved when drawing the digging wheel structure to dig along a curve, and thereby minimizing angular stresses on the digging wheel and boom structure during digging along a curve and facilitating the continuous digging of ditches as the machine is turned to the right or the left.

2. ln a ditching machine, a self-propelled vehicle including a frame structure having parallel spaced side frame members extending therealong, a power source carried by said frame structure and having a drive shaft, said frame structure having transversely spaced upright supports extending upwardly from said side frame members at the rear ends thereof, a boom structure extending rearwardly from said frame structure, a digging wheel supported by said boom structure, draw bar means connecting said boom structure to said upright supports comprising individual connectors associated with said upright supports and mounted for pivotal movement about horizontal transverse axes spaced above said side frame members, power transmission means connected between said drive shaft and said digging wheel for driving said digging wheel, said power transmission means including a differential supported by said connectors intermediate the ends thereof and an extensible drive connection from said drive shaft to said differential, laterally spaced drive trains driven by said differential and having driving connection with said digging wheel, means pivotally connecting said boom structure to said connectors for movement about horizontal transverse axes disposed adjacent the lower ends of said connectors, and motion limiting means associated with each connector and limiting angular movement of said connectors toward and from said upriglt supports in vertical planes, said motion limiting means having spaced stop surfaces limiting angular movement of said connectors toward and from said supports, whereby the draw bar pull of the vehicle is directed through both of said connectors in a straight forward travel of the vehicle and is directed through the outer connector on the outside of the curve and is relieved from the inner connector on the inside of the curve when drawing the digging wheel structure to dig along a curve, and thereby minimizing angular stresses on the boom structure and the digging wheel during digging along a curve and facilitating the digging of ditches along a curve as the machine is turned to the right or to the left.

3. In a ditching machine, a self-propelled vehicle including a frame structure, a power source carried by said frame structure and having a drive shaft extending longitudinally of said frame structure, said frame structure having parallel spaced side fratrie members extending longitudinally thereof land having upright supports extending upwardly from said side frame members, a boom structure extending rearwardly from said Side frame members and spaced therefrom, a digging wheel rotatably supported by said boom structure, means connecting said boom structure to said upright supports to be drawn by the vehicle to eect a ditching operation including individual connectors associated with said upright Supports, means mounting said connectors for pivotal movement with respect to said upright supports about horizontal transverse axes spaced above said sido frame members, horizontal transversely extending pivot pins pivotally connecting said boom structurc to said connectors beneath the axes of pivotal movement of said connectors, flexible draft means trained over said upright supports and having connection with said boom structure for elevating said boom structure and digging wheel about the axes of connection of said boom structure to said connectors, other flexible draft means trained over said upright supports and having connection with said connectors for elevating said connectors with respect to said upright supports, power transmission means connected between said longitudinally extending drive shaft and said digging wheel for driving said digging wheel including a diierential having a housing supported on said connectors, the support between said connectors and said housing accommodating relative movement of said connectors with respect to each other, laterally spaced drive trains driven by said diiierential and having driving connection with said digging wheel, and motion limiting means associated with each connector and limiting angular movement of said connectors toward and from said up right supports, said motion limiting means having two longitudinally spaced stop surfaces limiting motion of said connectors toward and from said supports whereby the draw bar pull of the vehicle to said boom structure is directed through both of said connectors in the straight forward travel of the machine and acts on the outer con nector on the outside of a curve, and the draw bar pull on the inner connector on the inside of the curve is relieved when drawing the digging wheel to dig along a curve.

4. in a ditching machine, a self-propelled tractor having a frame structure having paraliei spaced side frame members extending therealong, laterally spaced upright supports extending vertically from said side frame members, guide members pivotally mounted on said supports adjacent the upper ends thereof for movement about coaxiai transverse axes and depending from said transverse axes, connectors guidedV for movement along said guide members, a boom structure transversely pivotally connected to said connectors, a digging wheel structure can ried by said boom structure, said tractor having lift mechanism mounted thereon and including iiexible cables trained over said upright supports and having connection with said connectors for vertically moving said connectors along said guide members, and stop means associated with each connector and limiting outward movement of said connectors with respect to said side frame members and thereby accommodating the pulling force of the tractor to be concentracted on both connectors in the straight forward travel or the tractor and to act only through the connector at the otuside of a curve when turning the tractor in one direction or another so as to minimize the twisting stresses on said boom structure and said digging wheel when said tractor is drawing said boom structure and digging wheel to dig around the corner.

5. A ditching machine in 4accordance with claim 4, wherein the stop means limiting outward movement of the connectors with respect to the frame structure comn prises individual pin and slot connections between said guide members and said trame structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,427 Ruth Oct. 29, 1929 1,739,888 Clark Dec. 17, 1929 1,762,568 Barber June 10, 1930 2,329,659 Smith Sept. 14, 1943 2,368,360 Hollmann Jan. 30, 1945 2,421,472 Way lune 3, 1947 2,772,491 Stansbury Dec. 4, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Germany, M 19499 III/a, Ian. 19, 1956.

J. A n 

